STEVE BRUCE and Kenny Dalglish had to agree to differ over the big talking point at Anfield.

Kieran Richardson brought down Luis Suarez inside the first five minutes to concede a penalty – missed, in the end by the Uruguayan – but it was the colour of the card that caused controversy.

Referee Phil Dowd chose yellow, but Sunderland could have had no complaints had it been red as Suarez was on his way round the goalkeeper.

Bruce thought the ref got it right, but Liverpool boss Dalglish felt nine out of ten officials would have sent Richardson packing.

Bruce said: “I thought the goalkeeper was going to retrieve the ball actually.

“Suarez was going away from goal, but on another day it could have been a red card.

“I did not think so. I have seen it on the TV and I thought Suarez had knocked it too far and it was more of a clumsy challenge from Kieran.

“I thought Suarez had knocked it too far and I did not think he could get on the end of it and put it in the back of the net, because the goalkeeper would have got back.

“We do not want to see red cards, anyway, because all it does is spoil the spectacle.”

Dalglish said: “You do not want to see people sent off.

“I don’t know what the rulebook says, but it was a clear goalscoring chance.

“Luis Suarez was through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. Was he going away from goal? Well, you have to take the ball one side of the goalkeeper or the other!

“Nine out of ten referees would probably have shown Kieran the red card.”

Suarez put Liverpool ahead early in the first-half, but debutant Seb Larsson levelled just before the hour.

Bruce added: “We got away with it a bit in the first 20 minutes – we gave the ball away badly in that spell.

“We got over that period and, after that, the longer the game went on the more belief we had and we posed a bit of a threat to them.

“We kept the ball better in the second half and that was the key to it.

“All in all, it was a very, very good performance and it was very pleasing.”

Even Dalglish admitted Sunderland deserved a point, adding: “Over the game, considering the effort and commitment Sunderland put into it, I think a draw was probably about right.”

Bruce was delighted with the performances of goalscorer Larsson and £1m buy from Manchester United Wes Brown, who was a rock at the heart of defence after he had negotiated the tricky opening 20-minute spell.